Controllable self-discharging railroad hopper car



N. C. A. CARLQUIST. CONTROLLABLE SELF DlSCHARGlNG RAILROAD HOPPER CAR.

Patented Mar. 7 1922.

FIG.| FIQZ APPLICATION FILED JUNK-I25, 1921.

Inuen or A! C. ll, Carl 1276f portion of the load UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

NILS CARL AXEL CARLQUIST, 033 MALMO, SWEDEN.

CONTROLLABLE SELF-DISCHARGING RAILROAD HOPPER CAR.

Application filed June 25,

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I. Nine CARL AXEL CARL- UisT, a citizen of Sweden, residing at Malmo, Sweden, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Controllable Self-Discharging Railroad Hopper Cars; and I do hereby declare the following to be a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, such as will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to make and use the same.

In self discharging railroad hopper cars having their body formed by two side walls inclining towards each other it is known to apply revolving'doors provided with a cylindrical surface facing the load or rotary valves serving as stopping members for the discharge openings in the lower part of the car body. These rotary valves have a cylindrical surface facing the load and thus it is possible to control the discharging velocity and under certain circumstances to cut off the discharge.

.In such previously known hopper cars a centre beam is provided in the line of intersection between the two inclining side walls in order to support or caulk the valves. By such an arrangement a rotary valve having its lower edge in the said line of intersection can only be turned upwards, not downwards.

If the rotary valve is arranged in such a way that the lower edge of the cylindrical surface of the same is placed below the line of intersection between the two inclining sides or at one side of the centre beam it is true that the rotary valve can be turned both upwards and downwards, but in this case the whole load can be discharged at one side of the car only. In other words, if for instance the left hand valve is opened the resting immediately above the right handvvalve cannot be dis charged at the left side, and vice versa.

This disadvantage is eliminated by the present invention according to which two rotary valves or shutters are placed opposite each other or two pairs of such valves are arranged in such a way that their lower edges coincide with the line of intersection mentioned above without using any centre beam between them. For discharging the load towards the side of the car the valve or shutter is lowered and for discharging at the centre the valve is raised. The load will Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Mar. 7, 1922.

1921. Serial No. 480,416.

be discharged through a hole in an inclining plate fastened on the car which hole, when d scharging towards the side of the car takes place. is covered by a corresponding plate fastened on the rotary valve or shutter and extending from the upper edge of its cylindrical surface.

By such an arrangement the valves or shutters placed opposite each other can only be opened one at a time for discharging towards the side. It is, however, possible to discharge one part of the load to one side and another pa rt to the other side, as a valve shutter already opened always can be closed and thereafter the opposite valve opened.

F or discharging the load at the centre of the car the valve is raised. and if a very large discharge opening is required it can be obtained by raising both opposite valves.

l t is convenient to apply two small valves or shutters in each opening instead of one larger. lVhen only one shutter is used this one will be so heavy that it is very difficult to turn the same. Besides, if only one valve is provided in each opening. this valve will ordinarily be so high that the upper part of the same has too little slope :For obtaining a sure sclt' discharging oi the load. The lower valve or shutter is in the following referred to as the main valve and the upper one as the auxiliary valve or shutter.

If two valves are provided in one opening it is convenient to handle them from one place in such a way that one of them is moved prior to the other one. This is preferably brought about in a simple way by providing one controlling shaft for each pair of rotary shutters. I

Referring to the accompanying drawing, forming a part of this specification in which like numerals designate like parts in all the views Fig. 1 is a side view of a car having two valves or shutters in each opening.

Fig. 2 is a sectional view of the same car with closed valves.

Fig. 3 is similar sectional view with one pair of valves opened for discharging at one side and the other pair for discharging at the center of the car.

Fig. 4 is a similar sectional view showing both pairs of valves opened for discharging the centre.

Fig. 5 is a sectional view of a car having clining side walls of vvalve is moved faster one single valve or shutter for each opening, both of said valves shown in this figure being shut. V

Fig. 6 is a similar sectional view showing the left valve opened for side-discharging and the right valve opened for centre-discharging. f

Referring to Figs. 1%, lindicates the inthe car body and 2 represents the main valve or shutter which is made to turn around hinges 3 fastened to the inclining plate at on the car body. The plate extending from the upper edge of the cylindrical surface on the valve 2 is indicated by the numeral 5. The auxiliary valve or shutter 6 is made to turn around an axle 7 A controlling shaft 8 mounted longitudinally on the car body is provided with a lever arm 9 for turning the main valve 2 and another lever arm 10 for turning the auxil iary valve 6. The lever arms 9 and 10 are connected with their respective valves by means of connecting rods 11 and .12.

As clearly shown on the drawing the lever arms are arranged in such a way in relation to each other and to the valves that the main. valve is lowered when the shaft is turned in one direction and raised when the shaft is turned in the opposite direction, the auxiliary valve being raised by turning the shaft in either direction for the startin position of the lever arm approximately on a line with theconnecting rod 12 when thevalvesare closed. It is to be seen by the drawing that the main valve is moving quicker at turning movement of the shaft- 9 when the auxiliary valve moves very slowly. By continued turning of the shaft 9 the auxiliary the load on the been lessened. Consequently upon by the pressure from mam valve has less power is required for turning the valves at the beginning of the opening movement and the power will become more evenly distributed by using two valves instead of only one for each opening.

The construction shown for turning the valves may practically be used also when the car is arrange'lonly for emptying. at the sides or only for discharging at the centre.

In the form shown in Figs. 5 and 6 having only onesingle valve or shutterfor each opening the axis of rotation"? of the valve is situated above the plane of the inclining plate 4.- and 1n this case the outer edge of the plate 5 extending from the upper edge of the cylindrical surface 2 is connected with a plate l3 bent in the: shape-of a cylindrical surface; When the valve is opened upwards .orrlownwards this plate 13 follows the upper edge oftheinclining plate 1 and thus when the valve is opened for discharging at thecentre of the car the material is prevented from falling out at the side of the car,

the be innin of they line of intersectionbetween the sai D if? when the surface acted its body formed by.

movement of the and during the opening the plate 13 pre valve for side discharging What 1 claim is: v

1. A controllable self discharging railroad hopper car having the lower part of its body formed by two side walls inclining towards each other and provided with one or more pairs of discharging openings, each pair consisting of two openings opposite each other without any centre beam in the line of intersection between the said inclining side walls, inclined chute boards extending outwardly below the inclined side walls, a rotary valve in each opening to normally close the latter, said valve being provided with a cylindrical surface and a plate extending from the upper edge of the said cylindrical surface, said plate being arranged in such a way that it serves as a substantial continuation of the inclined chute board to carry off a load to one side of the car when the valve'is lowered below normal position, each valve when raised above normal position forming the side walls of a passage, at the centre to discharge a load below the car. 7

- 2. A controllable self discharging railroad hopper car having the lower part of its body formed by two SlClB walls 1ncl1n1ng 10, as shown in Fig. 2, is

towards each other and provided with one or more pairs of discharging openings, each pair consisting of two openings opposite each other without any. centre beam in the d inclining side walls, inclined chute boards extending outwardly below the inclinedjwa-lls and two rotaryvalves in each opening to normally close the latter, the axis of the valves beingparallel, each valve having a cylindrical surface for closing the lowerand upper part respectively of each opening,'the lower valve having a plate extending from the upper edge of the cylindrical surface, said plate being arrangedto form a substantial continuation of the inclined chute board when lowered below normal positionto discharge a load at the side valves when raised above normal position in the openings forming anunobstructed passage for discharging aload at the center of the car, and means for operating the rotary valves. said means including connections to move the u er- 1min the same direction when the lower valvesare operated above or below normal position.

,3 A- controllable self discharging r railroad hopper car having the lower. part of two side walls incl ning towards each-other-and provided with one or more pairs of discharging openings, each pair consisting of twoopenings. opposite each other without anycentre beam in the line of intersectionbetween the said inclinof the oar the 7 iao ing side walls, and having in each opening two rotary valves with their axles parallel to each other and each provided with a cylindrical surface for closing the lower and upper part respectively of the opening and means for opening and closing both valves by a common controlling shaft provided with leversconnected with the valves by means of connecting rods, said levers such a way in relation to each other and to the valves that the upper valve is always turned upwards by turning the shaft in either direction from the closing position, the lower valve being lowered when the shaft is turned in one direction and raised when the shaft'is turned in the opposite direction.

a. In combination, a car body having bottom portions which incline inwardly toward each other and chute boards which incline outwardly from the center of the body, there being an opening formed at the apex of the inclined bottom portions and the inclined chute boards, rotary valves mounted adjacent the openings, said valves when in one position in the opening forming a continuation of the inclined bottom portions, and when in retracted position leave the opening unobstructed for the discharge of a load under the car, said valves when retracted forming a chute for the material in passing through the opening.

5. In combination, a car having inwardly inclined bottom portions and outwardly inclined chute boards at the apex of the in clined bottom portions, there being a central opening through the inclined bottom por tions and the outwardly inclined chute boards, a pair of rotary valves between the inclined bottom portions and the inclined chute boards, the lower valves having curved ends, flat plates extending therefrom, and

being placed in means for operating the valves, the curved ends forming continuations of the inclined bottom portions when in normal position and when retracted leaving the opening unobstructed, the flat plates of the valves being adapted to form a continuation of the chute boards to discharge from the side of the car.

6. In combination, a car body, comprising an inwardly inclined bottom portion and an outwardly inclined chute board, there being an opening at the apex of the inclined bottom portion and inclined chute board, a pair of valves pivoted between the inclined bottom board and the inclined chute board, the upper valve having a curved plate, the lower valve having a curved plate and a flat plate extending therefrom, the curved plates forming a continuation of-the inclined bottom when the valves are in closed position, a rock shaft, a lever extending therefrom toward the upper valve, a connection between said lever and valve, a second lever on the shaft substantially at right angles to the first mentioned lever, a connection between the last mentioned lever and the lower valve, whereby when the rock shaft is moved in one position the upper valve will be withdrawn from the opening and the lower valve will be moved to bring the flat plate in alignment with the inclined bottom portion and form a continuation of the same, and when said shaft is moved in the opposite direction, both said valves will be retracted from the opening to permit discharge at the bottom of the car.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

N ILS CARL AXEL CARLQUIST. Vitnesses:

ERNsr PIERCE, FRED FLORON. 

